The Beekeeper (2024) - Ayer and Statham go for the jugular

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Star Jason Statham looks intense while apparently dissolving into a swarm of bees on this mostly yellow poster for David Ayer's The Beekeeper

An elderly lady on a remote farm is phone-scammed out of all her savings. But the morally bankrupt crooks behind the scheme did not expect that her barn was housing a mysterious retired beekeeper.

 

The Beekeeper is written by Kurt Wimmer (Street Kings (2008)) and directed by David Ayer (Harsh Times (2005)).

Part of the charm of this hard-hitting escapism is that it is made without any pretense as to its nature or ambitions. Pairing one of the top action stars of our time, the slick, effective Jason Statham (Furious 7 (2015)) with one of the best testosterone-fueled macho action directors, Ayer, is a strong match, and for action fans an enjoyable one.

The story here is a thin veneer that would be suited for a cheap 1970s exploitation b-picture. And that's more or less exactly what The Beekeeper is, only it's a (not that) cheap 2020s exploitation b-picture. The setup is simple yet effective: Phone wire fraud scams are as widespread today as they are hated, and Phylicia Rashad (The Cosby Show (1984-92)) is ideal as the sympathetic, innocent 'old' lady that the viper's nest of scammer douchebags wring dry. Her drastic reaction justifies the finger-cutting, neck-stabbing, auto-drowning, live-incinerating train of manic vengeance that Statham's cipher character unleashes in response. Expletives and brutal violence go hand in hand, as the super-simple plot soon implicates not only local spaghetti trash Mickey Garnett (David Witts (Manhunt (2021, TV-series))) and his immediate boss, young worthless tech guru Josh Hutcherson (The Disaster Artist (2017)), - linking crypto investments to drugs and robbing the elderly in a neat bit of writing, - but also retired CIA director and current rich bastard father Jeremy Irons (Lolita (1997)), - a scoop casting for the film, - and his ex-wife, now a modern two-faced President of the US (Jemma Redgrave (Demon (2021))). There's also a crazed female beekeeper and a gonzo, spit-shooting, one-legged goon performance from Taylor James (Christmas Eve (2015)). Plus Emmy Raver-Lampman (Jane the Virgin (2019, TV-series)) as the personally implicated FBI agent with a giant afro and attitude to spare, who connects the dots and sometimes has Statham's back. 

If this sounds outlandish but enjoyable, that's because it is. No, there's no sense in the beekeeper identity that basically has Statham a retired secret government killer, whose life is about keeping bees, collecting honey and stashing it in massive amounts in a barn in the middle of nowhere for eternity (until this shit happens!) And there's no brilliance in the pulpy developments. But they are mostly practical, CG-free action, delivered with all the elegance and refinement that goes along with having a massive pork chop slammed to your forehead. In other words, I dug it!

 

Related posts:

David Ayer: 2014 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED IV]
2014 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED III]
2014 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]  

Sabotage (2014) or, Hardcore Badasses! 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: Reportedly 34 mil. $

Box office: 75.3 mil. $ and counting

= Too early to say

[The Beekeeper was released January 8 (Philippines) and runs 105 minutes. Shooting took place from September - December 2022 in Massachusetts and in England, including in London. The film opened #2, behind Mean Girls, to a long 18.5 mil. $ MLK opening weekend in North America, where it has just spent its 2nd weekend still at #2. It has 6 markets still scheduled for it to open in during January and February. Likely ending up a profitable endeavor, a 150+ mil. $ gross should likely secure a sequel. Ayer is announced to direct two upcoming films, the Sylvester Stallone co-written Levon's Trade, starring Statham, and a Dirty Dozen remake, - but might Beekeeper 2 come first? Statham is announced to return in Levon's Trade, Martin Zandvliet-helmed Russian mob movie Small Dark Look and Fast X: Part 2 (2025), - but again, who knows if Beekeeper 2 could arrive first? 11+k IMDb users have given The Beekeeper a 6.7/10 average rating.]

What do you think of The Beekeeper?

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014) - Lawrence and Lawrence champion YA sci-fi

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Star Jennifer Lawrence looks tough in armor and added on wings on this fiery poster for Francis Lawrence's The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1

Catniss is in mourning over Peeta's death, when she learns that he is actually still alive but held captive. The resistance movement now position Catniss as their mockingjay, the leader and inspiration for their rebellion.

 

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 is written by Peter Craig (Blood Father (2016)) and Danny Strong (The Butler (2013)), adapting Mockingjay (2010) by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games (2008)), and directed by Francis Lawrence (Constantine (2005)). It is the 3rd film in the Hunger Games franchise.

Jennifer Lawrence (Passengers (2016)) is still good as the natural center for the films, leading with big emotions and in this one also singing. Mockingjay 1 is a piece of entertaining, youth-centered science fiction with a certain amount of brains behind it; for instance the film also shows how the good heroine is also staged for effect. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 is good but feels a bit like a long middle chapter.

 

Related posts:

 

The Hunger Games franchise: The Hunger Games (2012) - A global, teen-centered sci-fi smash

Francis Lawrence: 2007 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]
2007 in films - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I] 

I Am Legend (2007) - Lawrence's overrated apocalyptic slush 

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 140 mil. $

Box office: 755.3 mil. $

= Big hit (returned 5.39 times the cost)

[The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 premiered 10 November (London) and runs 123 minutes. Shooting took place back-to-back with Mockingjay Part 2 from September - December 2013 in Germany, including in Berlin, Paris France, Georgia, Boston, Massachusetts and in Los Angeles, California. Lawrence was paid 7.5 mil. $ for her performance in the film. The film opened #1 to a 121.8 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent another 2 weekends at #1 and two more in the top 5 (#2-#5), grossing 337.1 mil. $ (44.6 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were the UK with 48.6 mil. $ (6.4 %) and China with 36.5 mil. $ (4.8 %). Co-star Philip Seymour Hoffman died of an overdose at a late stage of production, and the film is dedicated to him. It additionally made in excess of 73.1 mil. $ on the home video market in North America alone. The final film in the original saga was released as The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015), which was Francis Lawrence's return as a filmmaker as well as Jennifer Lawrence's return as a star. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 is fresh at 70 % with a 6.30/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1? 

The Hunger Games (2012) - A global, teen-centered sci-fi smash

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Jennifer Lawrence dyed her hair dark brown to portray Katniss Everdeen in Gary Ross' The Hunger Games

QUICK REVIEW:

In the future, the US population is held in an iron grip under a rich ruling class with a broadcasted, deadly game between 24 children and young people as the annual highpoint. But this year cool Katniss Everdeen volunteers to spare her little sister, who was drawn out for the competition!

Hunger Games is an adaptation of Suzanne Collins' (Mockinjay (2010)) same-titled 2008 novel, the first in her Hunger Games trilogy. It is adapted by Collins, Billy Ray (Captain Phillips (2013)) and great co-writer/director Gary Ross (Pleasantville (1998)).
The Hunger Games universe lures and amuses with its many goofy elements and stylings of its characters; here's a giant science fiction phenomenon that simply doesn't look very cool!
Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle (2013)), the Cinderella-like darling of the movie business these years, is perfect in the lead, and she possesses a warmth and a strength that is remarkable. Donald Sutherland (Horrible Bosses (2011)) is exciting to watch as President Snow. In other supporting parts, Lenny Kravitz (Precious (2009)), Woody Harrelson (Semi-Pro (2008)), Elizabeth Banks (Magic Mike XXL (2015)), Toby Jones (Berberian Sound Studio (2012)) and Stanley Tucci (The Devil Wears Prada (2006)) are good, at times funny, whereas Liam Hemsworth's (Empire State (2013)) contribution is minimal. I also SPOILER wondered why Katniss falls for Josh Hutcherson's (Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)) character, who can't do much and even betrays her.
The violent scenes are shot so that it's hard to see what is happening, which is annoying.
The Hunger Games is a piece of sci-fi that isn't so bizarre that one can't see reflections of our own reality in the exciting world conjured up here. A promising start to the franchise.

Watch the trailer for the movie here

Cost: 78 mil. $
Box office: 694.3 mil. $
= Huge hit
[The Hunger Games was one of Lionsgate's biggest projects at the time, and lots of happening actresses tried out the part that went to Lawrence. It was shot on film, (which was deemed most cost-friendly...) in May - September 2011 in North Carolina. Tax breaks helped the costs down by around 8 mil. $. A majorly anticipated youth property, the film arrived with positive reviews to a great response: It took the #1 spot with a 152.5 mil. $ opening weekend in North America and broke the March release record. It held onto the #1 spot for 4 consecutive weekends, the first film to achieve this since Avatar (2009). It grossed 408 mil. $ (58.8 % of the total gross) in North America. The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets for the film were the UK (37.3 mil. $/5.4 %) and Australia (31 mil. $/4.5 %). Hunger Games was banned in Vietnam. With 10.3 mil. DVD and Blurays sold, it was the #1 video release of 2012, and the soundtrack album debuted at Billboard's #1 spot as the first soundtrack to do this since This Is It (2009). The Hunger Games is certified fresh at 84 % with a 7.2 critical average on Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of The Hunger Games?